MS Office Certification 1

[jsisley]

Has anyone taken any of the Expert-level certification tests for MS Office programs? I'm preparing for Word and Powerpoint and will take Excel and Outlook to follow. Wondering if anyone has any hints/tips on what to expect on these tests.

I've looked at the Microsoft Certification forum and it is for more technical certifications (MCSE, etc.). I thought someone in this forum may have gone through the Office Certification path.

Any info/insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

JSisley

 

[Lilliabeth]

I guess you're talking Office 2003 since there aren't, to my knowledge, expert-level exams for 2007.

I've passed all of them to include the expert ones (there are only 2 expert exams - Word and Excel). The exams are simulations, which is great - instead of multiple choice questions, you actually do the thing in a window that looks just like the product.

The Skill Standards that MS lists are true to the exams. Know these things and you will do great.

Before you start, have a good look at the the equipment you're given. Once I had to go get a proctor because the spacebar wouldn't work only to be told that they know it's messed up; you just have to be sure to hit exactly in the middle for it to work. At a different place, I had to clean the ball mouse during an exam.

If you open a toolbar, be sure to close it. I've heard that questions results are graded by comparing your screen shot with a shot of the correct answer, so you want there to be as few differences as possible.

Keep an eye on the timer but try to be calm.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/requirements.mspx

Lilliabeth
-Why use a big word when a diminutive one will do?-

 

[jsisley]

Thanks Lilliabeth! Yes, it will be for 2003 - sorry, I should have stated that in my earlier post. I've got a couple of quarters off of school (they aren't offering the classes I need), so I thought I'd spend the time getting the Master Certification in MS Office 2003! I'll be sure to check out the equipment before starting the test.

JSisley

 

[GlennUK]

Thanks from me too Lilliabeth ... I've never taken any Office certifications ( they didn't exist when I became "expert" at Excel, as far as I know ) ... but may need to in the near future.

Cheers, Glenn.

Did you hear about the literalist show-jumper? He broke his nose jumping against the clock.

 

[fneily]

I've taught people to pass the Expert-level certification and I've interviewed people who had the Office certifications. First, alot of people have the Office certifications and they don't mean much in a job interview. High school students can pass the Office certification tests. The bottom line is if you can't be creative, it really doesn't matter how much of an application you know. If you can't apply it, then passing such tests is meaningless. If you want to impress someone, learn how to automate the applications. This will involve learning coding and automation. Reason - you can actually cut people's work time up to 80%. Employers like to see that.